Associate Professor Ernest Ekpo
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Associate Professor Ernest Ekpo

BSc (Hons); PhD
Associate Professor
NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow Clinical
Sydney School of Health Sciences
Discipline of Medical Imaging Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Phone
61+ 2 9351 9656
Details
Associate Professor Ernest Ekpo

Ernest Ekpo trained as a Radiographer and Sonographer at the University of Calabar, Nigeria. He first worked as a Radiographer and Sonographer, and later as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Calabar. Ernest obtained his PhD at the University of Sydney and is currently a Scholarly Teaching Fellow at the University. Ernest is a member of Sydney Catalyst Translational Research and Cancer Research Network. He currently serves as the Co-Director of the Medical Image Optimisation and Perception Group (MIOPeG) and Associate Editor of the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences. He is a keen researcher and reviewer for many peer-reviewed international journals. His academic prowess has been recognised by the prestigious Radiography Editor's Choice Paper, and the best presentation award, Publons top reviewer medal, Outstanding Teaching (Early Career) awards, and SOAR prize.

Ernest's research interests include breast density, breast cancer biomarkers, optimisation of breast cancer detection, models for risk and treatment outcome prediction, medical image perception, dose optimisation, radiographic and ultrasound image interpretation, and novel radiological tools for breast density measurement and image display.

Dr. Ekpo coordinates four core units of study across the Undergraduate and Masters programs in the Disciple of Medical Imaging Science. He is also involved in Honours, Masters and PhD research Supervision.

Current research and Honours students

Project

Research Student

Breast composition: utility as marker of breast cancer treatment response and outcome

Ibrahem kanbayti

Re-evaluating Chest X-ray in patients with acute abdominal pain

Brian Evans

Role of ultrasound and digital breast tomosynthesis in assessing the dense breast after inconclusive 2D screening mammography

Ibrahim M Hadadi

Volumetric breast density measurement with digital breast tomosynthesis: is agreement with BI-RADS® influenced by radiologist’s characteristics?

Gyeongmin Lee

Automated mammographic breast density measurement: comparison of right and left breast with BI-RADS®

Sin Ping Inez Yeo

Assessing the validity of LIBRA for breast density assessment in clinical practice

Yun-Lu Wang

  • Transforming the prediction of breast cancer treatment outcome using Artificial Intelligence Solutions
  • Image-based phenotypes for predicting of breast cancer treatment response and outcome
  • Re-evaluating imaging pathways for acute abdominal pain in the emergency department
  • Exploring imaging pathways for women with dense breasts
  • Transforming cardiovascular health in low-resource countries through education and mobile technologies
  • Diagnostic Reference Levels for Computed Tomography Examinations

Radiography Editor's Choice Paper of 2015

Cancer Research Network best presentation in public health 2015

Publons Top peer reviewer medal

Outstanding Teaching (Early career)

Cancer, Medical Imaging
Project titleResearch student
Optimising abdominal CT examination using emerging techniques and technologies.Mohammed ALANAZI
Assessing the influence of 'radiographer commenting' on image quality of X-raysAllie TONKS

Publications

Journals

  • Kanbayti, I., Alzahrani, M., Yeslam, Y., Habib, N., Hadadi, I., Almaimoni, Y., Alahmadi, A., Ekpo, E. (2024). Association between Family History of Breast Cancer and Breast Density in Saudi Premenopausal Women Participating in Mammography Screening. Clinics and Practice, 14(1), 164-172. [More Information]
  • Abu Awwad, D., Ekpo, E. (2024). Imaging of the adjacent upper limb: Outcomes and diagnostic yield. Radiography, 30(3), 753-758. [More Information]
  • Yapp, K., Ekpo, E. (2023). Clinical history and incidental abnormality detection in endodontic cone beam computed tomography. Journal of Medical Imaging, 10(4), 045502. [More Information]

Conferences

  • Gandomkar, Z., Lewis, S., Siviengphanom, S., Wong, D., Ekpo, E., Suleiman, M., Tao, X., Reed, W., Brennan, P. (2023). False-negative diagnosis might occur due to absence of the global radiomic signature of malignancy on screening mammograms. SPIE Medical Imaging 2023, United States: SPIE. [More Information]
  • Gandomkar, Z., Lewis, S., Siviengphan, S., Suleiman, M., Wong, D., Reed, W., Ekpo, E., Brennan, P. (2022). Classification and reviewing of prior screening mammograms from screen-detected breast cancer cases. 16th International Workshop on Breast Imaging (IWBI2022), United States: SPIE. [More Information]
  • Gandomkar, Z., Siviengphanom, S., Suleiman, M., Wong, D., Reed, W., Ekpo, E., Xu, D., Lewis, S., Brennan, P. (2022). The reliability of radiologists' first impression interpreting a screening mammogram. SPIE Medical Imaging 2022, United States: SPIE. [More Information]

2024

  • Kanbayti, I., Alzahrani, M., Yeslam, Y., Habib, N., Hadadi, I., Almaimoni, Y., Alahmadi, A., Ekpo, E. (2024). Association between Family History of Breast Cancer and Breast Density in Saudi Premenopausal Women Participating in Mammography Screening. Clinics and Practice, 14(1), 164-172. [More Information]
  • Abu Awwad, D., Ekpo, E. (2024). Imaging of the adjacent upper limb: Outcomes and diagnostic yield. Radiography, 30(3), 753-758. [More Information]

2023

  • Yapp, K., Ekpo, E. (2023). Clinical history and incidental abnormality detection in endodontic cone beam computed tomography. Journal of Medical Imaging, 10(4), 045502. [More Information]
  • Akpan, E., Abinya, N., Odhiambo, E., Ekpo, E. (2023). Determinants of an integrated cervical cancer screening services in primary healthcare: sharing lessons from Kisumu, Kenya. Journal of Public Health in Africa: research and practice, 14(4), 1783. [More Information]
  • Wong, D., Gandomkar, Z., Lewis, S., Reed, W., Suleiman, M., Siviengphanom, S., Ekpo, E. (2023). Do Reader Characteristics Affect Diagnostic Efficacy in Screening Mammography? A Systematic Review. Clinical Breast Cancer, 23(3), e56-e67. [More Information]

2022

  • Gandomkar, Z., Lewis, S., Li, T., Ekpo, E., Brennan, P. (2022). A machine learning model based on readers’ characteristics to predict their performances in reading screening mammograms. Breast Cancer, 29(4), 589-598. [More Information]
  • Baysari, M., Wells, J., Ekpo, E., Makeham, M., Penm, J., Alexander, N., Holden, A., Ubeja, R., McAllister, S. (2022). An Exploratory Study of Allied Health Students' Experiences of Electronic Medical Records During Placements. Applied Clinical Informatics, 13(2), 410-418. [More Information]
  • Evans, B., Ali, M., Ekpo, E. (2022). Are chest X-rays valuable for patients presenting to emergency departments with acute abdominal pain? Australasian Emergency Care, 25(1), 84-87. [More Information]

2021

  • Del Gante, E., Kumar, M., Sng, L., Tan, C., Yeo, C., Sim, W., Ekpo, E. (2021). Accuracy of radiographer comment following a two-month experiential and blended learning in appendicular skeleton X-ray interpretation: The Singapore experience. Radiography, 27(1), 43-47. [More Information]
  • Gandomkar, Z., Ekpo, E., Lewis, S., Suleiman, M., Siviengphanom, S., Li, T., Brennan, P. (2021). An end-to-end deep learning model can detect the gist of the abnormal in prior mammograms as perceived by experienced radiologists. Medical Imaging 2021: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment, United States: SPIE. [More Information]
  • Hadadi, I., Rae, W., Clarke, J., McEntee, M., Ekpo, E. (2021). Breast cancer detection: Comparison of digital mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis across non-dense and dense breasts. Radiography, 27(4), 1027-1032. [More Information]

2020

  • Yeo, I., Akwo, J., Ekpo, E. (2020). Automated mammographic density measurement using Quantra™: Comparison with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiology synoptic scale. Journal of Medical Imaging, 7(3), 1-12. [More Information]
  • Gandomkar, Z., Ekpo, E., Chen, Z., Suleiman, M., Li, T., Tapia, K., Brennan, P., Lewis, S. (2020). Expert radiologist performance does not appear to impact upon their capability in perceiving the gist of the abnormal on mammograms. 15th International Workshop on Breast Imaging (IWBI 2020), Bellingham: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]
  • Gandomkar, Z., Ekpo, E., Lewis, S., Suleiman, M., Tapia, K., Li, T., Tavakoli Taba, S., Trieu, P., Brennan, P. (2020). Investigating the potential of a gist-sensitive computer-aided detection tool. Medical Imaging 2020: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment, Bellingham: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]

2019

  • Kanbayti, I., Rae, W., McEntee, M., Ekpo, E. (2019). Are mammographic density phenotypes associated with breast cancer treatment response and clinical outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Breast, 47, 62-76. [More Information]
  • Brennan, P., Ganesan, A., Eckstein, M., Ekpo, E., Tapia, K., Mello-Thoms, C., Lewis, S., Juni, M. (2019). Benefits of Independent Double Reading in Digital Mammography: A Theoretical Evaluation of All Possible Pairing Methodologies. Academic Radiology, 26(6), 717-723. [More Information]
  • Ukweh, O., Ekpo, E. (2019). Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Carotid Plaque: A Pilot Study of Risk Factors in an Indigenous Nigerian Population. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 28(5), 1346-1352. [More Information]

2018

  • Gandomkar, Z., Ekpo, E., Lewis, S., Evans, K., Tapia, K., Trieu, P., Wolfe, J., Brennan, P. (2018). Detection of the abnormal GIST in the prior mammograms even with no overt sign of breast cancer. 14th International Workshop on Breast Imaging (IWBI 2018), Bellingham: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [More Information]
  • Alhailiy, A., Ekpo, E., Ryan, E., Kench, P., Brennan, P., McEntee, M. (2018). Diagnostic Reference levels for cardiac CT angiography in Australia. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 182(4), 525-531. [More Information]
  • Ekpo, E., Adejoh, T., Akwo, J., Emeka, O., Modu, A., Abba, M., Adesina, K., Omiyi, O., Chiegwu, U. (2018). Diagnostic reference levels for common computed tomography (CT) examinations: results from the first Nigerian nationwide dose survey. Journal of Radiological Protection, 38(2), 525-535. [More Information]

2017

  • Ekpo, E., Hogg, P., Wasike, E., McEntee, M. (2017). A self-directed learning intervention for radiographers rating mammographic breast density. Radiography, 23(4), 337-342. [More Information]
  • Ekpo, E., Egbe, N., Akpan, B., McEntee, M. (2017). Do Nigerian Radiographers have potential to interpret chest radiographs? Medical Image Perception Society (MIPS) XVII Conference 2017, United States: S P I E - International Society for Optical Engineering.
  • Ekpo, E., Snaith, B., Harris, M., McEntee, M. (2017). Doctoral profile of the medical radiation sciences: a baseline for Australia and New Zealand. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 64(3), 195-202. [More Information]

2016

  • Ekpo, E., Hogg, P., McEntee, M. (2016). A Review of Individual and Institutional Publication Productivity in Medical Radiation Science. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 47(1), 13-20. [More Information]
  • Ekpo, E., McEntee, M. (2016). An Evaluation of Performance Characteristics of Primary Display Devices. Journal of Digital Imaging, 29(2), 175-182. [More Information]
  • Ekpo, E., Ujong, U., Mello-Thoms, C., McEntee, M. (2016). Assessment of Interradiologist Agreement Regarding Mammographic Breast Density Classification Using the Fifth Edition of the BI-RADS Atlas. American Journal Of Roentgenology, 206(5), 1119-1123. [More Information]

2015

  • Ekpo, E., Hogg, P., Highnam, R., McEntee, M. (2015). Breast composition: Measurement and clinical use. Radiography, 21(4), 324-333. [More Information]
  • Ekpo, E., McEntee, M. (2015). New displays: novel, but fit for purpose? Australian Institute of Radiography NSW Branch Med Rad Forum 2015, Sydney.
  • Ekpo, E., Akpan, B. (2015). Radiographers' performance in chest X-ray interpretation: the Nigerian experience. British Journal of Radiology, 88(1051). [More Information]

2014

  • Ekpo, E., McEntee, M. (2014). Measurement of breast density with Digital Breast Tomosynthesis - a systematic review. British Journal of Radiology, 87(1043), 1-9. [More Information]
  • Ekpo, E., Hoban, A., McEntee, M. (2014). Optimisation of direct digital chest radiography using Cu filtration. Radiography, 20(4), 346-350. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2024

  • Transforming radiography students and graduates education in the identification of urgent findings on computed tomography (CT) using a novel educational platform., Ekpo E, Victorian Medical Radiation Practitioners Education Trust/VMRPET Research and Education Funding

2023

  • SMaRT-P: Streamlining Mammography Recall and Triaging Pathways, Ekpo E, Tour de Cure Ltd/Mid Career Researcher Grant